Mark Zuckerman
Mark Zuckerman

Report: Doolittle signing one-year deal with Reds

Report: Doolittle signing one-year deal with Reds
The chances of Sean Doolittle's return to D.C. already looked slim after the Nationals signed All-Star left-hander Brad Hand last week. Today, that chance became nonexistent after Doolittle reportedly agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Reds. That agreement, first reported by The Athletic, gives Doolittle an opportunity to re-establish his career in Cincinnati after a rough 2020 season in Washington that was derailed by injuries and diminished velocity. Unable to throw his...
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Mark Zuckerman

What will spring training look like?

What will spring training look like?
As expected, the Major League Baseball Players Association on Monday night shot down MLB's proposal to push back the start of spring training one month, reduce the regular season to 154 games and complete an expanded postseason in early November, all while receiving full-season pay and reinstituting the universal designated hitter for 2021. "The MLBPA Executive Board and Player leadership reviewed and discussed the owners' proposal throughout the weekend and today," the union said in a...
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Mark Zuckerman

Will players go for MLB's delayed, 154-game proposal?

Will players go for MLB's delayed, 154-game proposal?
It's February, and February means the start of spring training. Nationals pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to West Palm Beach in 16 days, and if that isn't reason to smile on this snowy morning, what is? Unless pitchers and catchers don't actually report on Feb. 17 as scheduled, which appears to be the preference of Major League Baseball. MLB, according to multiple reports Sunday, has sent a proposal to the MLB Players Association requesting a one-month delay of spring training,...
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Mark Zuckerman

Why the Nats keep finding themselves in need of catchers

Why the Nats keep finding themselves in need of catchers
The Nationals' acquisition Thursday evening of Alex Avila was no surprise. Which is to say, we'd known for months they were going to need to acquire a catcher from outside the organization to replace Kurt Suzuki and share the job with Yan Gomes. Whether it was Avila or one of the other available free agents, the Nats had to get themselves another catcher this winter, one way or the other. Why? Because they didn't feel like they had a viable in-house candidate for that job. And truth be told,...
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Mark Zuckerman

Daniel Murphy, hitter extraordinaire, announces retirement

Daniel Murphy, hitter extraordinaire, announces retirement
Daniel Murphy, owner of the highest batting average and second-highest OPS in Nationals history, announced his retirement Friday, bringing an end to a 12-year career that peaked just as he was about to come to Washington and thus made him a significant part of club lore. "This is a beautiful game, and I really just feel humbled and blessed that it let me jump on the ride for a little bit," Murphy told SNY in announcing his decision to retire. "It's beautiful. It can teach you about so many...
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Mark Zuckerman

Is the Nationals' 2021 roster now in place?

Is the Nationals' 2021 roster now in place?
They got the first baseman they needed. They got the corner outfielder they wanted. They got the No. 4 starter they desired. They got the left-handed reliever they coveted. They brought back the face of the franchise for another season. And now they got the No. 2 catcher they were lacking. The Nationals went into the offseason with a clear checklist, and though it took a while for the wheels to get into full motion, they've now checked off every box on the list, capped by Thursday evening's...
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Mark Zuckerman

Nationals tab veteran Avila for No. 2 catching job

Nationals tab veteran Avila for No. 2 catching job
The Nationals appear to have found their backup catcher, one who has a prior relationship with three-fifths of their rotation. Alex Avila, the 12-year veteran of five organizations (most extensively the Tigers), has agreed to a one-year deal with the Nats, a source familiar with the contract confirmed. Avila, who turns 34 on Friday, still needs to pass a physical before the transaction is official. In their search for a catcher to replace Kurt Suzuki, the Nationals had no shortage of options...
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Mark Zuckerman

On Lester's durability, pickoff issues and need for good defense

On Lester's durability, pickoff issues and need for good defense
Some more thoughts on and from Jon Lester, the newest member of the Nationals rotation, who was formally introduced Wednesday during a Zoom session with reporters ... * The best thing Lester has going for him is durability. He made at least 31 starts every season from 2008-19, and he made all 12 of his scheduled starts last season. Lester has been on the injured list only three times in the last 13 years, and none of them was a prolonged stint. He missed 19 days with a back strain in 2011, he...
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Mark Zuckerman

Lester comes to D.C. with one goal in mind: "I want to win"

Lester comes to D.C. with one goal in mind: "I want to win"
He's won three championships for two iconic franchises, started Game 1 of the World Series, appeared in Game 7 of the Fall Classic and pitched in a bunch of postseason clinchers. He beat cancer. He's made nearly $200 million in career earnings. He'll never have to buy anyone another drink in Boston or Chicago (though he actually did buy a whole lot of people drinks in Chicago after the 2020 season). Jon Lester, suffice it to say, doesn't need to prove anything to anybody at this point in...
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Mark Zuckerman

On Hand's velocity, Lester's physical and Realmuto's signing

On Hand's velocity, Lester's physical and Realmuto's signing
Some assorted news and notes for you on this Wednesday morning ... * Much has been made of Brad Hand's diminished fastball velocity last season, and it has been presented as perhaps cause for concern as the left-hander joins the back end of the Nationals bullpen. But is this anything to actually worry about? First, let's look at the numbers. Hand's four-seam fastball averaged 92.7 mph in 2019. It then dropped to 91.4 mph last season. That's not nothing. And yet, it should be noted hitters...
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Mark Zuckerman

My 2021 Hall of Fame ballot

My 2021 Hall of Fame ballot
There's no greater privilege in this business than serving as a Hall of Fame voter. And there's no greater feeling than seeing one of baseball's greatest get the news of his election, knowing you played a small role in making it happen. So it's always disappointing to put the time and effort into voting in a given year and then find out nobody was elected. Unfortunately, it does happen from time to time. Not by design, but by a confluence of events including an excess number of players...
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Mark Zuckerman

Newly signed Hand comfortable with any late-inning role

Newly signed Hand comfortable with any late-inning role
Though he was the consensus best reliever available on the free agent market this winter, Brad Hand spent 2 1/2 months waiting to learn where he would pitch in 2021. Chalk it up to this most unusual offseason across baseball, and it's understandable, though no less nerve-wracking for the players involved. Early in the process, though, Hand knew the Nationals were among the teams interested in him. And over the last couple of weeks, he said, they stepped up their efforts before finally sealing...
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Mark Zuckerman

Will any new Hall of Famers be elected tonight?

Will any new Hall of Famers be elected tonight?
Hall of Fame election day should be an enjoyable event. We should spend our time celebrating the careers of the greatest players baseball has to offer and engaging in spirited but friendly debates about those players who didn't get enough votes to make it to Cooperstown. Unfortunately, this probably isn't going to be one of those election days. For a number of reasons, this could wind up being the most depressing one of these we've had in a while. The year-long pandemic, of course, has made...
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Mark Zuckerman

With four late-inning arms, Nats have plenty of relief options

With four late-inning arms, Nats have plenty of relief options
A few national baseball writers referred to Brad Hand as the Nationals' "new closer" upon reporting his contract agreement Sunday night. Don't be so sure about that. Though Hand certainly is going to end up closing some games for the Nats this season, that's not technically the role the club has in mind for him. It's safe to say Davey Martinez will use Hand whenever the matchup is in his favor, whether that comes in the seventh, eighth or ninth inning. Some managers and some teams think...
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Mark Zuckerman

Nationals bolster bullpen with top available lefty Hand

Nationals bolster bullpen with top available lefty Hand
The Nationals have known all winter they needed an experienced left-hander for their bullpen, someone who could be counted upon to get big outs late in games. They're going to wind up getting the best one available. The Nats are in agreement with veteran reliever Brad Hand on a one-year deal worth $10.5 million, pending a physical, a source familiar with the signing confirmed. Once the deal becomes official, the Nationals will have added one of baseball's best lefty relievers over the last...
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Mark Zuckerman

Bell-Zimmerman combo at first base could work nicely for Nats

Bell-Zimmerman combo at first base could work nicely for Nats
What kind of production can the Nationals expect from their first basemen in 2021? Would they be satisfied with 30 homers, 99 RBIs, a .305 batting average, .390 on-base percentage and .997 OPS? Because that's what you get when you combine Josh Bell's 2019 numbers against right-handers and Ryan Zimmerman's 2019 numbers against left-handers. Yep, if Bell took all the at-bats against righties and Zimmerman took all the at-bats against lefties, they'd have combined for a .997 OPS across exactly...
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Mark Zuckerman

Zimmerman not back for "victory lap," believes he can help

Zimmerman not back for "victory lap," believes he can help
Ryan Zimmerman was close to 100 percent confident all along he'd return to play for the Nationals this year after opting out of the 2020 season. But his motives weren't personal, and they weren't about ensuring his career didn't end without playing one more season for the only franchise he's ever known. "Me coming back this year was in no means for a victory lap sort of thing. I think you guys know me better than that," the 36-year-old first baseman said today during a Zoom session to...
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Mark Zuckerman

Davey Johnson back home after hospital stint with COVID-19

Davey Johnson back home after hospital stint with COVID-19
Former Nationals manager Davey Johnson was hospitalized this week with COVID-19 but was back at his Florida home resting comfortably Friday evening, according to a message from his wife to the Mets' longtime public relations director. Word of Johnson's illness first became public Friday afternoon when Ken Davidoff of the New York Post sent him a text message seeking his thoughts on Hank Aaron following the Hall of Famer's death. Johnson, 77, replied to Davidoff: "Loved him. Can't talk, in...
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Mark Zuckerman

Zimmerman will return to Nats for 2021 on one-year deal

Zimmerman will return to Nats for 2021 on one-year deal
Ryan Zimmerman will indeed play at least one more season for the Nationals after sitting out 2020. Zimmerman, as anticipated all along, agreed to terms on a one-year deal today with the only franchise that has ever employed him. Once finalized it will include a $1 million base salary plus incentives, a source familiar with the contract said. Though he opted out of last season for family health concerns - his wife, Heather, gave birth to the couple's third child in June; and his mother, Cheryl,...
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Mark Zuckerman

Young arms need to step up if Nats want better prospect ranking

Young arms need to step up if Nats want better prospect ranking
Prospect rankings should always be taken with a grain of salt. And if there's anyone in baseball whose mouth is over-seasoned from lack of interest in prospect rankings, it's Mike Rizzo. The Nationals general manager doesn't care what any outside publication says about his farm system. He cares only about what he sees with his own eyes and what his scouts and coaches see with theirs. OK, there's your caveat to the news that comes next: The Nationals do not currently have any of baseball's...
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